The first thing Elia wanted as she got in the castle was a radio and soon the underground hallway reserved for the twins became noisy and lively thanks to an old device that Jane found in the storage room. The plan was for Elia to stay in Alec's room, but she refused. Jane was worried that the newborn didn't like her brother's room, but that didn't seem to be the case. Elia just didn't want to be alone, so Jane agreed to have her in her room until her brother returned.
It was a shock to Jane at first, so much music and impulsiveness, but she soon seemed to like it. A record player was the second request since apparently the Volturi had a large vinyl collection somewhere in the library, although Gianna had never seen it in person.
- I prefer classical music! - Jane said, turning off the radio at the first opportunity she had, when Elia finally managed to tune in to a station.
- You can like all the music in the world - Elia turned the radio back on, taking Jane's hand off the device as if it were made of paper.
That was the second shock for the girl, knowing that she was weaker, at least for a year. As far as Jane knew, Elia had not even asked about the Volturi's abilities, she did not even know about her gift or Alec's. That was insane from her point of view.
- That's it! - Elia clapped, the music was still playing at full volume - we need more lights.
- You need more clothes - Jane intervened, lowering the volume a little.
As if she had guessed that the vampire was in trouble, Jane received a message from Gianna informing her that the boxes had arrived.
"Finally," she thought, putting the cell phone back in her dress pocket, completely ignoring the hundreds of unread messages from Demetri.
- Come, Gianna is calling us - Jane said, turning off the radio once again and taking Elia to the door.
She didn't have to use force with the newborn, as she would be no match for her, but Elia simply let Jane take her to places. With the exception of Alec, Jane had never had another person she could be gentle with, so it was a new feeling.
- Why are you there? - Elia looked back, her dark hair falling over her shoulders. Her nose was prominent in profile - You can walk beside me.
- I don't... - Jane stopped talking when the newborn intertwined her arms with hers and they then began to walk together through the corridors. Jane had seen girls do this once, at school or on the street, they were usually friends, but Jane still didn't know if Elia was her friend.
"What if she finds out that I cause pain to people? What if she knows what Alec does?", Jane began to think, forgetting to enjoy the moment. Elia had not yet learned to walk around the castle so Jane was her guide. She had shown her the way to the reception, the common room, the hall and the library, but Elia ended up getting lost every time she tried to go out alone, so Jane was content with the fact that she would have to be her babysitter for a while.
She knew that this would be a little easier and the other members who had remained would want to meet her, but Jane did not know what was happening. Everyone seemed to disappear when they arrived at a place, even if their smell gave them away.
- Now we should go left - Elia said confidently.
- Right - Jane corrected her. The stairs to the reception were in sight.
- You're so clever.
Jane stared at the wall to hide her smile. She had been complimented, and now she was smiling. She really wanted to stop having this reaction.
Gianna hid her expression of horror when she saw the two of them arrive behind a folder. Elia had brought the red pillow from the mansion for the cat with her, placing it near Gianna's desk, and the cat now roamed the reception and the common room, sometimes even taking the elevator and hunting mice. Just like Gianna, he could not go any lower.
- The boxes with the signorina's clothes have arrived - Gianna said, her expression had returned to normal.
- Good, now we can return your clothes - Jane said. Elia released her and the vampire tried to control her disappointment.
- You can keep them! - Gianna hurried to say.
Elia petted the cat first, who walked skillfully between her legs and meowed before lying down again.
- You look healthier - the newborn told Gianna as Jane opened the first box - you no longer have dark circles under your eyes.
- That's because I'm sleeping better - Gianna took a deep breath - it's been a peaceful week without you haunting the house at night.
Jane looked at Gianna disapprovingly, but the newborn laughed.
- Thank you for the clothes - Elia said, indicating the black dress she was wearing, simple and short with brown boots - and for sheltering me when I needed it. Alec won't say thank you, so I'll say it for him.
- No need for that, I... - Gianna waved her hands nervously, when she looked at Jane, she hid her face behind the folder again.
Elia didn't understand her reaction, so she turned towards Jane and picked up some of the new clothes, admiring every detail and carefully touching the sewing. Jane's clothes were handmade, which she preferred that way, and she frequented a very private atelier in England that would mail new designs to her for approval. She didn't need to go back there as her measurements didn't change.
It wasn't that Gianna's clothes were ugly, far from it, but Jane found them inappropriate, perhaps it was her mind with a consciousness of a distant time speaking. But especially this dress that Elia was wearing now, for Jane it was short and very flashy despite the fabric being noble.
Suddenly Elia took a set out of the box and handed it to Jane. The vampire held the clothes a little too surprised.
- I ordered this for you - the newborn said - Gianna told me which size would be best; I hope I got it right.
- But I didn't ask anything.
- But I wanted to give you a gift - Elia replied - something a little modern.
The clothes were wrapped, but this one had a red sticker indicating that it was a gift. Jane couldn't see the color or style, which made her a little anxious.
Elia was still rummaging through the boxes when Jane saw two figures in the corner, pale and long-haired, watching. Jane quickly turned her face away, she expected Heidi to come spy on Elia due to her connection with Demetri, something she still needed to understand better, but Chelsea? Jane tried not to stare.
- Who are you? - Elia asked.
"As always with no sense of self-preservation", Jane thought. She and Gianna exchanged looks for the first time, agreeing that this wasn't good.
The taller woman, Heidi, smiled, but it wasn't a good smile, more of a mocking one. She approached the desk, with Chelsea right behind her.
- We haven't been introduced yet - the vampire said in her silky voice. Her mahogany hair was half-up, her waist was highlighted by a black corset over a white shirt and tie. Her makeup was very strong. Jane knew right away that Heidi had staged that first meeting - my name is Heidi.
The presence behind her was no less strong, even if Chelsea was shorter. She was older than Jane in the clan and closer to Aro, Caius and the wives. Chelsea must have been a little older than Gianna in human years, but immortality suited her well. She did what she wanted, when she wanted, and went on the missions she chose, even if the same privilege was not given to her mate, Afton. Jane wanted to hate her a little more, but it was difficult, what she felt was more envy and admiration. Seeing something she could not become. For this meeting, Chelsea had chosen a long crimson dress with puffed sleeves that went from the shoulder to halfway down her arm, with leaves embroidered on the dress, which matched well with her light brown hair. Both women wore a striking necklace with a 'V' pendant.
- This is Chelsea - it was Jane who said, because the woman took too long. She looked at Elia with apparent curiosity, but Jane couldn't read her expression.
- Nice to meet you - Elia replied while Jane regretted having let her wear Gianna's clothes - I'm a little busy right now, but as soon as I learn to walk around the castle alone I can pay a visit to both of you.
- I doubt it very much - Heidi replied, then she tilted her head a little - but you can tell Demetri that he can come if he wants, I can forgive him.
Chelsea said something to Heidi, but Elia didn't understand. They spoke in something that sounded like German to her and soon the two left the reception.
Jane found herself in an internal conflict regarding what was happening. She had already chosen a side, no she would always choose Alec's side because they were family, but what was she supposed to do if Heidi kept provoking? Should she ask Gianna for more details?
- I don't understand - Elia turned to them after the two vampires left - why should I tell Demetri this?
- Oh, signorina... - Gianna sighed and shook her head as she sat down.
- Don't pity her, remember her position! - Jane retorted in an attempt to remember the human with whom she was dealing. Jane's gaze was quick, but accurate, and she made Gianna withdraw her hand in pain, a sensation that would have lasted longer if Elia hadn't intervened.
- It's okay, Jane - the Italian said, then patted her head in the same way she would do with the cat - let's put the boxes away, I want to try on the new clothes.
Elia picked up three boxes, leaving two for Jane, and went down the hallway first, probably turning in the wrong direction, Jane couldn't tell, as she stayed behind, astonished at having been treated with kindness even after having harmed the human.
"She'll hate me when she finds out about the human," Jane thought, she didn't need to be a detective to associate the ring Elia wore as a gift from that young man, it was too simple to be a gift from Alec. "And I'll hate my brother for it, for making me lose a friend".
- I'm sorry about this - Jane said to Gianna - it will be the last time you hear me say it, but just because Elia treats you well doesn't mean you can consider her a friend, she's immortal, you're not.
She added the last part because of the shock in the human's expression, who looked like she had seen a ghost, or a hideous monster.
- Yes, you're right - the human lowered her head, and the vampire felt more comfortable that way.
Jane picked up the remaining boxes while the cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She hated these electronic devices.
XXXXX
- Where are you now? - Elia whispered onto the phone. Jane wasn't around, she gave the newborn privacy to answer Alec's calls, even so, Elia ran into his room and whispered every word.
- Moldova - Alec answered - I think, we're following Stefan's trail and have blocked access to the rest of Europe.
- Sounds exciting - Elia replied, staring at the dark ceiling. Alec's room gave her a claustrophobic feeling, but she thought it was due to the silence.
- It would be more exciting if I were at home, with you. Without having to take refuge at the top of a tower to talk on the phone.
Even though Alec sounded angry, it made Elia laugh. She couldn't stay still in that room, so she walked between the desk and a bookshelf that Alec kept. Most of the books were in English and some had old, worn covers, a sign that they were frequently browsed.
- But I won't bother you with these things anymore - Elia could hear him sigh - what else do you want to know?
- Oh - the vampire sat down again, fiddling with the papers Alec kept on his desk, Elia recognized a drawing she had made for him - you told me about your family, about the fire.
- Yes, we were burned at the stake, quite classic for a superstitious village.
- You shouldn't laugh about it - Elia warned him. Since they were far away and Elia was curious, Alec had been telling her the story of when he was human - it's a sad story.
- I agree - he replied, in a disciplined way.
Elia touched some random objects on the desk, neatly arranged notes in a language that seemed to be Latin, fountain pens lined up by color, a letter opener and even a Rubik's cube with cold colors. There was also a lamp on the desk, gray and sharp, like everything else in the room. - That's when the mind reader saved you two - Elia concluded.
- Yes, Aro did what he had to do.
- And your parents? I mean... - Elia didn't know if she could ask that - Did they survive?
- Of course they did, they got along just fine without Jane and me.
Elia threw herself on the leather couch he kept in his room and began to think. If Alec were around, she would hug him, but what could she do on the phone? The only thing that united them was the bracelet on her wrist.
- I'm sorry - the vampire managed to say, if she took any longer to say anything she knew Jane would appear to take the phone from her hand - and I hope you come back soon.
- It's okay, it was a long time ago - Alec replied - I bet you're tired of having Jane around.
- Of course not - Elia smiled - I like her, she's a kind girl.
- Are we talking about the same Jane? - Alec's laughter finally took over the call.
Elia grabbed one of the couch pillows, they smelled like Alec and were comforting.
- Don't you want to know anything else? Nothing about what Jane and I can do after we're turned?
- You can tell me more when you get back, for now it's fine.
Alec laughed again.
- You know, when you were human, you filled me with questions, and now that I can finally tell you everything, you don't want to know.
- It's not that - Elia stared at the ceiling again, she wanted to change the colors of Alec's room - now we have more time.
- Now we have more time - Alec echoed her words.
Elia took a deep breath and her attention soon went to the silver ring on her finger. Sometimes she would spend hours staring at it, certain that she was forgetting something important.
- I wanted to wait to tell you in person - Alec's voice made her pay attention to the surroundings again - but I can't take it anymore...
As Alec took his time, Elia was faster:
- You're going to tell me you love me!
- How did you know?! - the young man's surprised reaction made Elia laugh even louder.
- I just guessed... - Elia sat on the couch, she could hear Jane's footsteps outside - How about trying again when you get back?
- Fine, but don't forget.
- I won't, and I won't forget that you owe me my special blood, you said Jane would bring me some, but she didn't.
He grunted, and then the connection crashed.
Elia knew there was no point in calling back. She had tried the last few times without success. When she stopped talking to Alec, she was taken by a feeling of longing and sadness, for not being able to do anything, not even helping him.
Jane appeared before Elia could even think about using the phone, but she had seen Demetri's rejected calls. She hadn't lied when she said she liked the girl, but at the same time she knew that the life they were leading in the castle was temporary. That calm would end when the mind reader returned and Alec spoke of another master, Caius, whom Elia still haven't met.
- Did you hear? - Elia asked as she handed the phone to Jane.
- Everything I heard made me feel sick - Jane was honest, sitting down next to Elia and putting the phone in her pocket. She hadn't tried on the outfit Elia had given her yet and continued to wear old-fashioned dresses, but now she kept her hair loose like Elia for most of the time.
Elia reached for one of the couch cushions again to smell Alec's scent. His clothes were in the closet next door, but Elia didn't want to go in there with Jane on guard. This feeling of longing could only be love, right?
- Why didn't you want to know about our gifts? - the girl asked. She wore heavier eye makeup today, a smoky eyeshadow that matched Elia's, who had accepted that part of living in this place meant dressing like in a runway.
- Because it doesn't change anything.
- Of course it does… - Jane seemed frustrated - You realize that Gianna is afraid of us, that the ones you met respect Alec and me!
- I didn't know about Alec's gifts even when I was human, as far as I can remember, and we became friends anyway, so it doesn't matter. With a scary gift or not, I like you.
Jane blinked.
- Who told you it's scary?
- Everything here is scary - Elia sighed, the dim light in the hallway made her miss the stars that she could see from the window in Gianna's mansion.
- I'll leave you in the library for a bit - Jane said - I need to go somewhere.
- What place? - Elia's eyes widened - Can I come with you?
- It's not a special place or anything - Jane held Elia's hands, who had a habit of touching people when she was anxious, and placed them back on the girl's legs - and you'll help me by staying in the library, Master Marcus is there and he can't be left unsupervised for too long, since we still need to watch the city our staff is short.
- Master Marcus - Elia thought for a moment - it must be the other one who visited me at the mansion, the tall and weird one.
- Technically you two are the weird ones.
- Technically you didn't show me the library, just the door outside.
- Then Master Marcus is the perfect person for your tour, he knows that place like no other.
Elia was about to answer when she heard something coming from the hallway, something melodious.
- Music!
She ran into the hallway to listen better, as the walls were thick. The melody floated through the air, as if it were a whisper, but of incomparable beauty, yet mysterious, as if it were a song from the past, lost in time, but at the same time, completely captivating.
The music sounded down the stairs and seemed to be coming from the hallway below the one inhabited by the twins. Elia hadn't gone down there yet.
- Who lives there? - Elia felt Jane's hand grip her wrist, she was small but strong.
- It's Lady Athenodora, she's a multi-instrumentalist, a very talented musician. It's been weeks since I've heard her, she usually doesn't play when Master Caius is away, she must have heard your radio noise.
- Did she get inspired? - Elia seemed delighted.
- Or she wanted to show you real music - Jane replied, in a skeptical tone.
It was as if the hallway in front of her stretched out infinitely, the walls slowly closing in as the music played, giving the impression that she was being called to something unknown. The music grew louder, more intense, but without losing its softness.
- When can I meet her?
- You can't go down there, no way! - Jane held Elia's wrist tighter, and struggled to make her move away from the stairs - No one who goes down there comes back, it's Corin's environment, if you get too close, you'll get too comfortable.
- There's nothing wrong with getting comfortable - Elia replied. She walked away from the stairs just so Jane would stop wrinkling her new vest.
- If you stay by Corin's side, you might become dependent on her, and never leave.
This time it was Jane who linked their arms together, because that way it would be easier to guide Elia without her getting lost, even though Jane thought it would be impossible now that she was wearing a wine-colored turtleneck, a black vest with dark blue details, and jeans in a deep, uniform tone. Jane thought it was all too exaggerated even though it matched Alec's bracelet, she feared that the clothes the newborn had bought for her would be in the same style.
- Remember, we must go up until we leave the living quarters - the vampire was reciting the instructions to Elia - then we turn left...
Elia wasn't listening, Athenodora's melody still in her mind, until she spotted the great gate ahead. The Volturi library was behind a large door of weathered wood, its edges adorned with fine hand-carved details depicting elegant arabesques and delicate geometric shapes. In the center was a large relief of classical patterns, such as intertwined leaves and stylized flowers. The hardware was sturdy and adorned with gold details, as if the gold itself had fused with the iron over the centuries, and the doorknob was a grand piece of ornate metal. It seemed too heavy for human hands.
- Aren't you going to come in with me? - Elia asked as soon as Jane released her.
- No, I'm already late, I took too long this time and he might... - the vampire stopped talking, her eyes fluttered - I'll be back soon, Master Marcus isn't that bad.
Elia nodded, she had never been with strangers before, because now she knew that Demetri was an acquaintance, and Gianna had become an important person to her. She didn't want to be alone.
It was almost as if the girl read the girl's thoughts. Jane suddenly turned around before leaving her sight:
- Don't follow me, understand? - the small figure said.
"Everything here is scary", Elia thought. Then she entered the library.
XXXXX
Stone, wood, bookshelves. Everything blended together in that environment that exuded knowledge. As soon as she entered, Elia found everything to have a classic air, as if it had existed a century or two ago. Mahogany and staircases were everywhere so that people, or vampires, could reach the books on the highest shelves, and there were many of them. Elia couldn't say how many books there were, but her gaze captured where the mahogany dissipated and gave way to carved stone. It was as if the bookstore had grown alongside the clan and part of it showed this history over the years with the materials used in its construction.
Elia went down a few steps and found herself right in the middle, in a circle filled with tables with chairs and lamps, and comfortable sofas where anyone could sit and read for hours.
Looking up at the ceiling, Elia admired the painting of the blue sky and the angels, cherubs wrapped in silk, flying freely in a sea of colors that humans might not be able to distinguish precisely. Elia felt envious of them.
Suddenly she heard the sound of some books falling and noticed the tall, pale figure cowering behind a bookshelf.
- Your clothes are wrong - Elia said as she ran towards him.
The figure, Marcus, from what Jane had said, must have been as old as the mind reader, for his skin was translucent with a papery texture. But unlike the other, his eyes were kind, but sad, very sad.
Marcus had no objections when Elia helped him fix the buttons on his shirt.
- That's better - the newborn said, then helped him pick up the books he had dropped - vampire books?
- Renata was reading them with me - Marcus finally spoke, and even his voice sounded tired, which didn't match his youthful appearance - but she's traveling, and I got tired of waiting.
- How interesting! - Elia laughed as she leafed through one of the books and stopped when she saw the author's photo - I think I must have read this before.
- You look better, miss - for his height, Marcus' posture seemed to be naturally inclined.
- Am I? - Elia held the book against her chest, her gaze returned to the ceiling and she spent another five minutes observing that work of art.
- We have other works, further back - Marcus spoke again suddenly - and manuscripts, some empty canvases when one of us decides to paint, sheet music that humans consider lost, CDs and vinyl records.
- Oh, so there really are vinyl records! - Elia smiled and returned the book to Marcus, who put it back on the shelf - Gianna said she didn't know where they were.
- Gianna doesn't come here much, even though it's less deep than the dormitory hallway - he combed his brown hair with his fingertips. Elia hadn't said they looked disheveled, but Marcus must have noticed her curious look - she barely scratched the surface of this library, that's a vampire privilege.
Elia nodded, and her gaze returned to the great gate, she could see it from that spot in the library and was afraid to lose sight of it. But there was another reason for this.
- Is there a problem? - the graceful Marcus asked, apparently worried.
- Jane told me I should keep an eye on you, but I wanted to know where she went. Demetri seems to be good at following people, but I'm not.
- We're all good at tracking, well, Demetri is exceptional, but you can find someone by smell - Marcus reached out and picked up a book from one of the high shelves, he smiled, it seemed he had found what he was looking for - just follow your instincts.
- You won't report me?
- To whom? - Marcus walked over to one of the sofas - Aro isn't here.
Elia decided to go before she lost her courage. As soon as she stepped out of the library, she tried for a moment to avoid thinking about anything other than Jane. She thought that would be a start, and it worked. As soon as she took a deep breath, she smelled the girl among many others.
"Follow the trail," she thought. Elia believed that Jane would have left through the upper floor, since she had seen the elevator a few times even though she was forbidden from taking it because of the humans who worked there. But she was surprised when Jane's trail led downwards, and not along the paths she had tried so hard to show the newborn.
There was no light in the corridors that Jane followed, and Elia found herself hesitating to continue along that path.
"There are no monsters here. You're the blood-sucking monster," she thought. It wasn't encouraging, but at least it made her move forward.
She closed her eyes for a few moments, afraid that something would emerge from the darkness and take her away, into the depths, but soon the claustrophobic feeling passed when she felt a ray of light through the crack in a rock.
Elia opened her eyes, the path had somehow led her upwards! The newborn placed her head against the rock to try to hear something, but there was nothing, sometimes a little bird, but there was no talking or the sound of cars. She was far from the city.
Elia decided to follow the light, her hands on the stone, laughing a little when the sun touched her fingers and she saw the shine of her skin. Jane's scent was still there, she was on the right track. Until suddenly a deep, rhythmic sound took over her ears. Elia moved away from the stone, fearing she was hearing something outside, but no, the sound was coming from the hallway! The vampire walked faster, following the sound, until she found a metal door at the end, half open. She was determined to move forward, slowly, even if she didn't notice Jane's presence on the other side of the door, no, she noticed something even better.
The smell of blood. The special blood. The blood that Alec brought to her!
It was as if Elia had no control over her actions, she only knew that she had to get to that blood. She walked through the metal door and ignored the entire room with its faded paint, the syringes and the empty jars, grabbing the metal bars of the cell that held what she was looking for.
- It's you - Elia said.
The noise Elia made as she grabbed the bars startled the young human, he crawled to the opposite wall before realizing who was staring at him this time, dropping the meal that had been handed to him on the floor without was a mattress in the cell, with a pillow and a blanket, and an old mahogany furniture with a notebook and pens.
The shock and fear that had taken over the human disappeared when he saw the vampire on the other side of the cell. His expression of fear turned to relief and excitement when he saw Elia. But the newborn didn't realize it, she didn't even notice the marks on his neck and the reason he tried to speak without being able to, desperate to get her attention, even though Elia couldn't take her eyes off him in a disturbing way.
The newborn didn't notice the familiarity of his wavy brown hair, nor his blue eyes, blueish than the painting on the ceiling of the Volturi library. There was only blood, her special blood, and then there was only death.